Worldwide’s 5th Annual Auburn Sale Smashes Records

Written by Auction News

Auburn based Worldwide Auctioneers announced earlier this year that it was moving its annual Labor Day Weekend catalogue sale, The Auburn Auction, to the National Auto & Museum, a move that this weekend proved spectacularly successful for both parties. A stunning 1934 Auburn 12 Salon Cabriolet broke records when it hammered sold for an staggering $473,000 and a rare 1931 Cadillac Series 370-A V12 Convertible Coupe broke another, bringing $231,000. Bids came in from the packed salesroom, telephone and Internet, with a host of exceptional consignments attracting buyers from across the country and overseas. Proceeds from the sale of three vehicles auctioned over the weekend netted $345,000 for the Museum, enabling the designated National Historic Landmark to retire its mortgage, with significant change to spare. These included the storied 2004 GT Factory Test Mule, a historic prototype supercar that found a new home in a private Florida museum for $217,250 and an immaculately restored 1918 American LaFrance Type 40 Fire truck, which brought a remarkable $145,200 for the museum and smashed another record for Worldwide. 70% of automobiles found new homes, with a total sale of $5.1 million.

“The Auburn Auction is about quality; while we don’t limit ourselves to selling the most expensive cars in the world, we promise you that any car you see here will be the very best of it’s type,” said Rod Egan, Principal & Auctioneer. “Some of the finest cars on the planet have exchanged hands right here in Auburn and we are absolutely committed to continuing the tradition today. There was no more appropriate place for us to choose to host this sale than from here at the National Auto & Truck Museum, the former factory L29 Cord building of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company. We are elated that the museum is able to retire its mortgage and solidify it’s future, as a direct consequence of the success of this year’s event. We can only look forward to many more years like this one and we sincerely thank all of our customers and friends for their ongoing enthusiasm and support. “

The Auburn Auction 2012had many high points. Auction guests might see themselves on national television in the near future. Gas Monkey Garage, subject of the Discovery Channel’s Fast N’ Loud, were on site, successfully selling a newly refurbished Hot Rod. The show’s stars Richard and Aaron, fresh off an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, were there with film crew, capturing some of the action. Other notable sales went to a very stately 1934 Packard Twelve Dual Cowl Phaeton, which sold for $319,000. Sports and muscle car enthusiasts were not disappointed either – an iconic 1973 Porsche 911 brought $125,400 whilst the most acclaimed restored Shelby in existence, an award winning 1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback, hammered sold for $187,000. An original, unrestored 1964 Amphicar 770 Convertible, owned by the same family from new, brought smiles and applause as it sold for $64,900, promising its new owner hours of entertainment on land and water. The Auburn Auction was presented as a two-evening catalogue sale, with some of the proceeds from the dedicated All Ford Friday segment on August 31 supporting the Early Ford V8 Foundation & Museum, whose goal is to create a new automobile museum attraction in Auburn – a tribute to the famous Ford Rotunda building in Dearborn, Michigan.

Auction results are available online at www.worldwide-auctioneers.com. Those interested in discussing future consignments can contact any of Worldwide’s Motorcar Specialists at 800.990.6789 or email info@worldwide-auctioneers.com.